Measles, which is highly contagious, can be entirely prevented through a two-dose vaccine, but the World Health Organization (WHO) has in recent months sounded the alarm over slipping global vaccination rates. "Preliminary global data shows that reported cases rose by 300 percent in the first three months of 2019, compared to the same period in 2018. This follows consecutive increases over the past two years," it said in a statement. "While this data is provisional and not yet complete, it indicates a clear trend. Many countries are in the midst of sizeable measles outbreaks, with all regions of the world experiencing sustained rises in cases," WHO further said. The agency noted that only about one in 10 actual measles cases are reported, meaning the early trends for 2019 likely underestimate the severity of the outbreaks. So far this year, 170 countries have reported 112,163 measles cases to WHO. At this time last year, 163 countries had reported 28,124 cases. "Spikes in case numbers … [Read more...] about Global measles cases up 300 percent year-on-year: WHO
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Hundreds vaccinated after measles emergency in New York
A New York county which declared a state of emergency over a measles outbreak is on the "right path" after administering hundreds of vaccinations in two days, the chief of the US district said on Friday. The World Health Organization has warned that the growing anti-vaccine movement in richer nations constitutes a top-10 global health threat Under the emergency, Rockland County banned non-vaccinated minors from public places in a bid to prevent the once-eliminated disease from spreading. Planned for 30 days from midnight Wednesday, the emergency comes during a US surge in measles cases, linked to an anti-vaccination movement. "We have already seen over 500 (new vaccinations) in the last couple of days," Rockland County Executive Ed Day said on CNBC TV. "People simply understand now that we are serious about this," added Day, whose district is 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of downtown New York. AFP / Factfile on measles, a highly contagious disease "We believe we are on a right … [Read more...] about Hundreds vaccinated after measles emergency in New York
New York county takes ‘extremely unusual’ step to ban unvaccinated minors from public places amid measles outbreak
New York county takes 'extremely unusual' step to ban unvaccinated minors from public places amid measles outbreak Unvaccinated people under age 18 are banned from public places in Rockland County, New York, as of midnight Wednesday, according to John Lyon, director of strategic communications for County Executive Ed Day. Day announced the order Tuesday. The declaration is an effort to contain an outbreak of measles that began in October; 153 cases have been confirmed in the county. The outbreak began when an unvaccinated resident became infected while visiting Israel and returned with the disease. It has mostly affected observant Jewish neighborhoods. New York City has reported 214 cases as of Wednesday from the outbreak, also in Orthodox Jewish communities, according to the city department of health. "We're not punishing the people who are doing the right thing already and following the rules. We just want to encourage everyone to do the right thing so we can stop this outbreak," … [Read more...] about New York county takes ‘extremely unusual’ step to ban unvaccinated minors from public places amid measles outbreak
GUNMAN ATTACKS PITTSBURGH SYNAGOGUE, KILLING 11 PEOPLE
Viet Nam News PITTSBURGH - A gunman who’s believed to have spewed anti-Semitic slurs and rhetoric on social media barged into a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday and opened fire, killing 11 people in one of the deadliest attacks on Jews in US history. The 20-minute attack at Tree of Life Congregation in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood left six others wounded, including four police officers who dashed to the scene, authorities said. The suspect, Robert Bowers, traded gunfire with police and was shot several times. Bowers, who was in fair condition at a hospital, was expected to face federal hate-crime charges. "Please know that justice in this case will be swift and it will be severe," Scott Brady, the chief federal prosecutor in western Pennsylvania, said at a late-afternoon news conference, characterizing the slaughter as a "terrible and unspeakable act of hate." The mass shooting came amid a rash of high-profile attacks in an increasingly divided country, one day after a … [Read more...] about GUNMAN ATTACKS PITTSBURGH SYNAGOGUE, KILLING 11 PEOPLE
Trump pledges Mideast peace plan within months
US President Donald Trump speaks as he meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (unseen) in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP) Holding talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York, Trump said it was a "dream" of his to bring about a peaceful solution to a conflict that has eluded several of his predecessors. While Trump said he expected Israel to make concessions in any final settlement of the decades-old conflict, the Palestinians said his administration's policies in the Middle East were destroying hopes of peace. Jared Kushner, who is Trump's son-in-law as well as a senior advisor in the White House, has been working on a peace plan for more than a year but there have been few clues to date of what he is expected to propose. "I would say over the next two to three to four months," Trump said, referring to his prospective timetable for presenting a plan. Trump, who met with Netanyahu on the sidelines of the UN … [Read more...] about Trump pledges Mideast peace plan within months